Improvement in tile making and laying machines



B. HUH-"HEIN, Tile-Making and Laying Machine.

WTRESSEE. $56.0

i; rrnD STATES IMPROVEMENT IN TILE MAKING AND LAVING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. R68, E04, dated July`27, 1875; application filed May 25, 1875.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, REUBEN HoFFHEIN, of York, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented a Tile Making and Laying Machine, of whichthe following is a specification:

The recognized advantages of underdraining to certain soils has led tothe invention of various devices designed to facilitate the oonstructionof permanent drains. Some of these devices are for the purpose ofdepositing ordinary drainetiles in a trench made by a moleplow, but sofar as I am aware no machine has heretofore been produced intended orcapable of making the required trench, and plastering its surface with asufficient layer of cement or concrete; or, in other words, a machine tomake and lay the tile at one operation, and in the form 4of a continuoustube.

My invention consists principally of a moleplow, with a tile making andlaying attachment hinged thereto; also in mixing and feeding mechanismautomatically actuated to mix and feed cement or concrete to line thetrench formed by the mole, and thus form a continuous cement or concretetile, formed and deposited in one continuous operation; also inchangeable-jointed shapers to shape and com pact the cement or concreteagainst the wall; also in a covering-wedge to return the earth to thetrench, and compact the same above the tile; and in water-tube to admitwater to the trench or to the cement-tube for the purpose offacilitating its exits from the machine.

That others may clearly understand my invention, I will particularlydescribe it, having reference to the accompanying drawing, where- 1n-Figure l is a perspective view of my full machine. Fig. 2 is a`longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section ofthe tube divested of the mixing and feeding devices.

A is the plow and B is the beam, to which the draftpower is applied. Atthe front end of the beam B I place an adjustable gagewheel to regulatethe depth of penetration of the plow. The mole C is attached by ajointbolt, a, to the rear edge of the plow A, so that the mole and plowmay change their positions, and render it much easier to change thedirection of advance than it otherwise would be.

In its simplest form the mole shown in Fig. 3 is attached. In this casethe mole is constructed with a tube, c, large enough to permit thepassage of ordinary drain-tile. The tube c opens at its Lipper end abovethe level ofthe ground, and at its lower end at the rear of the mole, sothat the tiles as they pass dow-n it are deposited exactly in thetrench. The tube c is expanded toward its central part, so

as to permit the tiles to pass down without binding, as shown in Fig. 3;but I prefer to employ with the tube c mixing, feeding, and moldingdevices, whereby tempered cement or concrete may be forced down throughsaid tube, and the surface of the trench plastered therewith, so as toform a continuous tile. made and laid in a single operation, as themachine advances.

These mixing, feeding, and forming devices I will now describe. At thetop of the tube c I place a hopper, D, into which the concrete or cementand water, if required, is placed from time to time, as may be required.A screw-shaft, E, is suspended from a gear-frame, F, and extends downthrough said hopper, and into the throat of the tube c, as far as may berequired. At the top of said shaft E there is a pinion, e, which gearswith a pinion,f, at the top of a shaft, g, which is actuated by adriver, h, on the axle of the masterwheels G G. The wheels Gr rest uponthe ground, and as the machine advances they are caused to revolve andgive motion to the screw E, whereby the contents of the hopper Dareforced down into and along the tube c, and discharged at its lower endinto the trench. A former, H, placed in the rear or lower end of thetube c, and extending forward far enough to its attachment at z' toenable the concrete or cement to pass entirely around said former andescape in the form of a complete tube or pipe. If necessary, one or moredragging-moles, lc, may be attached to the former H to fully expand andsmooth the inner surface of the pipe, and insure its completeness, evenif it should have been treated to too much water, or by the use ofseveral of such moles, as many as may be found to be requisite, theconcrete may be worked much thinner than would otherwise be possible,because however thin it may be the moles will keep it in position untilit sets As the plow advances it necessarily opens a trench extendingfrom the surface down to the location of the tile, and it is thereforerequisite to the best result that the earth shall be closed again overthe mole, so as to leave a complete tube of soil, against which toplaster the cement. For this purpose I attach a gathering wedge, I, tothe rear side of the tube c, its point being forward and its lower sideconcave, and widest at its rear end, so that as it is advanced it takesearth from the side ofthe trench, and compacts it down upon and over therear portion of the mole or tube c, and leaves an unbroken surface ofVearth to receive the cement or concrete as it issues from the rear endof said tube.

If the concrete or cementis used in a pretty stiff condition the wedge Iwill not be necessary for ordinary draining purposes, but if the objectis to forni a tube for the conveyance of water it will be required toinsure against cracking or accidental rupture of the cement wall by themole 7c. For ordinary draining purposes a horseshoe-tile is preferable,as it is open at the lower side and permits.

the water to enter there. When suoli open or horseshoe tile is to belaid the core or former H, as shown in Fig. 2, is used. Said former isattached at its rear end to the sole-piece m, which extends forwardbeneath the tube c, and covers the lower end of the joint-bolt, and isfastened in place with a screw, a. The sole-piece m is provided with tworibs or langes, o, running along its lower edge to leave unbroken groundbetween the two sides ofthe tile, and to prevent the outside pressurefrom forcing the wall together. When a cylindrical pipe is to be laidfor the purpose of conveying water or otherwise the piece m is removedand a cylindrical end piece is sub stituted for the horseshoe end ormole-piece c, and a cylindrical core or former, p, is substituted forthe horseshoe end piece, former H, and sole-piece m.

A water-tube, J, with a hopper, q, and stop-cock fr, are attached forthe purpose of injecting a little water upon the concrete or cement asit passes out of the tube c for the purpose of lubrication.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new isl-. Combined withthe mole C, substantially as described, a mixing and feeding' device,whereby concrete or cement may be mixed, fed, and discharged into thetrench at the rear of the mole.

2. Combined with the mole C the hopper D and screw E, driven by gearinge f g h, actuated by the rotation of the wheels G.

3;'The mole C and theV device YforV mixing, feeding, and discharging thecement or concrete, the hollow end piece or former, either cylindricalor horseshoe shaped, combined with a core, for the purpose set forth.

4. Combined with the discharge or end piece and its former or core theloosely-attached drag 7c, slightly larger than said core, for thepurpose set forth.

5. Combined with the mole C and the discharge-pipe c, the covering andcompressing wedge l, to close in the earth over the discharge end ofsaid pipe, for the vpurpose set forth.

6. Combined with the mole C and the pipe through which the cement is tobe passed into the trench, the water-pipe J, for the purpose set forth.

7. The process of constructing and laying concrete or cement tile inground, substantially as describedthat is to say, by means of amole-plow, provided with a tube discharging at the rear of the mole--andan apparatus for mixing, feeding, and discharging cement or concreteover cores or trench made by said mole, substantially as set forth.

REUBEN HOFFHEIN. Witnesses:

GEORGE M. SHETTER, H. S. MYERs.

formers into the

